Patent GB-807142-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to roof mechanisms for vehicle bodies
IPC: B60J7/04
Filed: 1957-01-14
Abstract: 807,142. Road vehicle sliding roofs. FRUEHAUF TRAILER CO. Jan. 14, 1957 [Jan. 25, 1956], No. 1418/57. Class 108(1) A rectangular vehicle body 10 having side and end walls, has a movable roof mechanism 12 comprising a rectangular roof sheet 34 slidably mounted on the top of the body, means carried by the body and operatively connected to the roof sheet selectively to drive the same each way longitudinally of the body, means operative in response to predetermined movement of the roof automatically indexing and locking the roof to the body with the upper members of one side wall of the body in alignment with the corresponding corners of the roof sheet, and jack means in the other side wall of the body exerting a jacking force along a longitudinal axis of the body to force the upper corners of this side into alignment with the corresponding corners of the roof sheet. Alternately spaced rollers 48, 50 secured to the upper flange 28 of member 26 on the side walls run in a track formed in the roof skirt 36 and allow the roof to slide smoothly. The driving means include a horizontal endless chain 52 which rides in channels 30 and engages a pair of toothed brackets 126, the brackets being bolted to the roof skirt at flange 44. Chain 52 is driven by a sprocket integral with sprocket 66 which is driven by an endless vertical chain 74 from sprocket 72. A further vertical chain 80 enclosed in a hollow post 76 connects sprocket 72 to the operating handle 92. A clutch plate 106 attached to shaft 94 of the handle 92 and the complementary clutch plate 104 secured to the rotatable bearing 84 which carries sprocket 80, allows the handel 92 to be disengaged from the drive mechanism when required. Handgrip 100 can slide into an aperture in the side wall and be secured therein by a releasable shield. The locking and index means comprise an upwardly slidable latch bar 158 spring tensioned to engage a keeper 130, when the roof is moving to the closed position. The keeper 130 consists of a pair of plates 132, 134, spaced apart by blocks 136 and 138, the outer ends of the.blocks and plates forming ramps 142. When the latch bar engages recess 140 a locking pin 176 is inserted aligning the upper corners of one side wall. To align the roof and the other side wall a jacking force is applied, the jack means including a latch mechanism as described but mounted for longitudinal sliding movement, a hydraulic pump connected to cylinders 212, 214, and rams 216, 218. A C-shaped member 184 carries the latch bar and guide 192 and slides in member 148 attached to the side wall, member 184 is moved by hand until the latch bar enters the keeper operation of the pump causes one of the rams 216 or 218 secured to the stationary member 148, to push against end plate 188 or 190 of sliding member 184. The roof is thereby moved and aligned relative to the side wall and the locking pin 202 may be inserted through the latch bar 194 and the aperture 206 in the side wall. At the front end of the roof a header hinged for upward movement closes off the roof, and at the rear, doors are provided. Attached to each door an angulated plate extends upwards above the hinge pin thereby shielding the mechanism of the sliding roof from the weather.